Service providers push again for tax increase

A coalition of unions, human service groups and lawmakers today at the Statehouse urged the Illinois House to pass a comprehensive tax plan to stave off devastating cuts to human services.

State Capitol Bureau

A coalition of unions, human service groups and lawmakers today at the Statehouse urged the Illinois House to pass a comprehensive tax plan to stave off devastating cuts to human services.

House Bill 174, which was passed by the Illinois Senate at the end of May, would raise the personal and corporate income tax to 5 percent, double the state's property tax credit and would funnel more money into education.

William McNary, co-director of Citizen Action/Illinois, said HB174 should "serve as a blueprint to avert budget disaster."

Under the current budget scenario, grants for social services like childcare and addiction treatment programs will be cut in half. In response, human services groups have been sounding the alarm about the toll these cuts will take on the services they provide.

Lutheran Social Services of Illinois spokesman Dan Schwick said the funding process for human services in Illinois is a "messed up system" where "crumbs" are used to help the state's most needy people. And under the state's current revenue structure, he said, "paperclips and glue" hold together the budget.

Plans floated by lawmakers to pass a 30-day or 60-day temporary budget or even pass a borrowing-based budget without a tax increase were blasted by Illinois Federation of Teachers President Ed Geppert, Jr. as insufficient.

"We can not go on and on with budget gimmickry about borrowing," he said.

Several House Democrats such as Rep. David Miller of Lynwood, who sponsored HB174, Rep. Sara Feigenholtz of Chicago and Rep. Julie Hamos of Evanston were also present.

Miller said his tax measure would structurally change how education is funded in Illinois and would provide tax relief.

Feigenholtz called on her fellow legislators to support the tax increase saying that they won't be harmed politically.

"Two times, tax increases have passed in the 1980s ... and not one member lost an election because they supported revenues," she said.

McNary joined Feigenholtz and called on House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, to call HB174 up for a vote in the House.

"Let's just put them to the test," he said.

GateHouse News Service State Capitol Bureau

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.